Four Innovative Trois-Rivieres Research Centres Receive Funding from Government of Canada

The Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of Infrastructure, Communities and Intergovernmental Affairs and Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec, today announced that three Cégep de Trois-Rivières college technology transfer centres and a Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières research centre have been granted financial assistance to acquire equipment.

This funding has been awarded in the form of four non-repayable contributions totalling $2,472,000 through Canada Economic Development's Quebec Economic Development Program.

Quick facts

The three college technology transfer centres receiving this funding are: the Centre collégial de transfert de technology en telecommunication (C2T3―College centre for the transfer of telecommunication technology), the Centre de métallurgie du Québec (CMQ) and Innofibre.

The Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières Lignocellulosic Materials Research Centre has also been granted financial support.

The four contributions will go toward the acquisition of leading-edge equipment.

Quotes

"By lending financial support to four research centres affiliated to Cégep de Trois-Rivières and to the Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, our Government is giving a real boost to innovation, and consequently to economic growth."

Denis Lebel, Minister of Infrastructure, Communities and Intergovernmental Affairs and Minister of the EconomicDevelopment Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec

"By encouraging applied research and the transfer of expertise to SMEs, these investments will help further the economic development and innovation needed for Mauricie to take its place in this increasingly globalized world."

Raymond-Robert Tremblay, Director General of Cégep de Trois-Rivières

"This financial support from Canada Economic Development will enable the Lignocellulosic Materials Research Centre of Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières to, one, acquire the equipment it needs to produce micro-organisms and enzymes with high applicability to the paper industry and agricultural community in our regions and, two, contribute to offering our master's and doctoral students state-of-the-art training on the subject."

Ms.Nadia Ghazzali, President, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières

Related document

For further information on these four projects, see the related backgrounder.

Keep up with the latest news from Canada Economic Development by visiting www.dec-ced.gc.ca or subscribing to @CanEconDev on Twitter

BACKGROUNDER

Financial support granted through Canada Economic Development's Quebec Economic Development Program (QEDP)

Non-repayable contribution of $485,000 on a total investment of $2,129,250

The C2T3 is a centre for the transfer of telecommunication technology that is part of the Cégep de Trois-Rivières. It provides its clients―more than 30 telecommunications companies―with training and support to assist their technological development. C2T3 also conducts applied research on wireless data signals and transmission, notably in the fields of telephony, health, radio and television technology.

The project involves the installation of a new radio frequency antenna pre-compliance and characterization laboratory. This financial assistance will be used primarily to acquire a compact anechoic chamber, immunity test systems and various other equipment.

The C2T3's new facilities will help the Mauricie region position itself as an applied research leader in telecommunications and offer clients a high quality research location.

Centre de métallurgie du Québec (CMQ)

Non-repayable contribution of $1,300,000 ($300,000 add-on) on a total investment of $4,767,764

The Centre de métallurgie du Québec (CMQ) is a college technology transfer centre that is part of the Cégep de Trois-Rivières. Its aim is to support the technological development of Quebec's manufacturing companies. To this end, it gives them privileged access to a team of researchers, engineers and teachers with specialized expertise on metallic materials and their processing techniques.

In recent months, the CMQ expanded its facilities and modernized its laboratory. The government assistance served primarily to purchase cutting-edge technology so as to offer its clientele―companies specialized in ground transportation and aeronautics-a high performance place of research.

Innofibre - Centre d'innovation des produits cellulosiques

Non-repayable contribution of $387,000on a total investment of $516,000

Innofibre is a college technology transfer centre that is part of the Cégep de Trois-Rivières. Its mission is to contribute to the technological positioning and sustainable development of the paper industry and biorefining in Quebec by supporting innovation and the diversification of biomass products and adapting papermaking technologies to customer needs.

With this project, Innofibre's goal is to build applied research capacity through the acquisition of equipment designed to convert various types of biomass into energy. In parallel, the Centre is also developing expertise in the sampling and analysis of air emissions and the operation of biomass boilers to meet the needs of its clients.

Non-repayable contribution of $300,000 on a total investment of $619,736

The Lignocellulosic Materials Research Centre of Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières is dedicated to studying the fundamental scientific issues of various industries, like pulp and paper or composite materials and lignocellulosic materials. The LMRC boasts several laboratories and research chairs.

The Centre's project involves setting up an industrial enzyme fermentation and expression pilot platform. The platform will enable the Centre to produce micro-organisms and enzymes with high applicability for its industry clientele. The funding will be used to acquire the equipment needed to set up this platform.